British groups unite on earthquake relief appeal
-12/10/05
Secular and church charities launched a South Asia earthquake relief appeal hotline yesterday.
The UK’s Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) has made a major appeal for victims of the disaster, saying funds are ìdesperately neededî. Thirteen aid agencies (listed below) have agreed to join forces in helping the relief effort.
The UK government has now provided more than £1 million worth of relief for quake-hit areas, International Development Secretary Hilary Benn told the House of Commons earlier this week.
A raft of charities had already launched appeals, with one, Islamic Relief – which has already allocated £2m – saying there had been a ìmassiveî public response, according to the BBC.
Disasters Emergency Committee CEO Brendan Gormley said: ìMany of our agencies are already working in this part of the world, and we are receiving overwhelming evidence that funds are desperately needed for relief work.î
He added: ìThousands of families are experiencing terrible suffering, particularly children, and we must help in every way we can.î
The DEC members are ActionAid, British Red Cross, CAFOD (Catholic Fund for Overseas Development), CARE International UK, Christian Aid, Concern, Help the Aged, Islamic Relief, Merlin, Oxfam, Save the Children, Tearfund and World Vision.
Faith organisations across the world, including the international ecumenical network Action of Churches Together (ACT), evangelical organisations and the Catholic network Caritas, have already responded in a major way to the earthquake tragedy.
[The DEC appeal is here. Individual donations can also be made directly to Christian Aid and regular contributions are welcome to its emergencies and disasters fund. Tearfund donations can be made here. CAFOD contributions here.]
British groups unite on earthquake relief appeal
-12/10/05
Secular and church charities launched a South Asia earthquake relief appeal hotline yesterday.
The UK’s Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) has made a major appeal for victims of the disaster, saying funds are ‘desperately needed’. Thirteen aid agencies (listed below) have agreed to join forces in helping the relief effort.
The UK government has now provided more than £1 million worth of relief for quake-hit areas, International Development Secretary Hilary Benn told the House of Commons earlier this week.
A raft of charities had already launched appeals, with one, Islamic Relief – which has already allocated £2m – saying there had been a ‘massive’ public response, according to the BBC.
Disasters Emergency Committee CEO Brendan Gormley said: ‘Many of our agencies are already working in this part of the world, and we are receiving overwhelming evidence that funds are desperately needed for relief work.’
He added: ‘Thousands of families are experiencing terrible suffering, particularly children, and we must help in every way we can.’
The DEC members are ActionAid, British Red Cross, CAFOD (Catholic Fund for Overseas Development), CARE International UK, Christian Aid, Concern, Help the Aged, Islamic Relief, Merlin, Oxfam, Save the Children, Tearfund and World Vision.
Faith organisations across the world, including the international ecumenical network Action of Churches Together (ACT), evangelical organisations and the Catholic network Caritas, have already responded in a major way to the earthquake tragedy.
[The DEC appeal is here. Individual donations can also be made directly to Christian Aid and regular contributions are welcome to its emergencies and disasters fund. Tearfund donations can be made here. CAFOD contributions here.]